Local Celebrities
Model for Hospice of North Central Florida
BEING THE MAYOR of Gainesville keeps Pegeen Hanrahan busy. However, she still finds time to help raise funds for much needed community programs provided by Hospice of North Central Florida (HNCF).
Hanrahan, along with other local celebrities – Sheriff Steve Oelrich, Rick Davis of GRU and Melanie Shore of Mercantile Bank – modeled holiday apparel to support the fourth annual Styles for Life Fashion Show presented by Hospice of North Central Florida on Thursday, Nov. 4 at the Best Western Gateway Grand. Models wore holiday fashions from Ilene’s for Fashion, Men’s Wearhouse, Stein Mart, Talbots and Wishful Thinking - Western World.
“We were excited to have support from our local leaders,” said Nancy Dohn, senior director of public relations and community development for Hospice of North Central Florida. “It really showed how important Hospice of North Central Florida is to this community.”
All proceeds from the show benefit community programs provided by Hospice of North Central Florida. The organization, recently named the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Business of the Year, provides community programs and services to help people and their families face the challenges of end-of-life issues while still living each day fully.
One such program is Healing Hearts, a community-wide grief support program for people facing any type of loss. This program helps people like Christie, whose first child was stillborn. Christie and her husband were grief stricken and had nowhere to turn until they attended an HNCF support group for people dealing with the loss of a child. They were able to understand their feelings and share with others who knew what they were going through. They learned to cope with the loss of their baby, but were also able to prepare for the birth of another. Recently, Christie and her husband celebrated the birth of a healthy boy.
This support group is one of many services that would not otherwise be available without the success of events like the fashion show and the support from community leaders like Mayor Hanrahan and Sheriff Steve Oelrich.
Hospice of North Central Florida serves people, and their communities, affected by life-limiting illness and loss. They provide comprehensive, compassionate care, while respecting each person’s needs, beliefs and wishes. G